Over 24,000 People Get First COVID-19 Vaccine Shots

The vaccinated front liners included medical workers, contact-tracing and quarantine staff and members of community-based COVID-19 prevention teams in 12 localities hit by the third wave of local trasmissions.  

The figure consists of 12,068 in Hai Duong, the epicenter of coronavirus, 3,768 in Ha Noi, 2,492 in Hung Yen, 1,332 in Bac Ninh, 2,281 in Bac Giang, 205 in Hai Phong, 884 in HCMC, 200 in Gia Lai, 204 in Long An, 117 in Da Nang, 152 in Hoa Binh, and 105 in Khanh Hoa. 

Among the vaccinated people, 4,078 displayed normal side-effects and fourteen experienced anaphylaxis (reaction from severe allergy) of level 2-3 after vaccination, according to the Ministry of Health.

However, these cases were in stable conditions, the ministry said.

The number of people experiencing side effects after receiving their COVID-19 shots in Viet Nam is "within the expected level," about 0.1% including high fever and blood pressure, according to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).

The causes of such side effects are being investigated by the Ministry of Health.

As of early March 18, the national COVID-19 patient tally stood at 2,567, including 2,198 recoveries and 35 deaths./.

By Kim Loan